A Quick Guide to ChaloHoppo’s Trip Calendar for 2019

It was your queries and encouragements that pushed us to create our first trip calendar guide. After we released it, the response we had received was overwhelming and now we present to you our ChaloHoppo Trip calendar 2019. This will throw insights on all our upcoming trips and will help you choose the kind of trip you wish to. This guide has three parts to it:

A)You should book this trip if you: This is to give you an idea of your traveller persona and choose a trip based on the kind of experiences you would like to have.

B) The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list: This gives an overview of the places the trip will cover. It doesn’t specifically mention everything to do in that place.

C) Highlights of the trip: This tells you what experiences we will be crafting for you.

Our Special Moment in 2018

In 2018, we had two amazing social personalitiesTanya Khanijow andAnkita Kumar aka monkey.inc who joined us for our tours. UnfortunatelyShramona Poddar popular as mishti.and.meat who was supposed to be a part of our trip could not make it due to certain unavoidable circumstances. These ladies have chosen a life that many of us dream of but probably aren’t bold enough to make a choice and persist with it. They have done it.

Our campers had the chance of interacting with Ankita and Tanya in the vivid setting of the golden paddy fields of Ziro. You can watchthis beautiful vlog by Tanya Khanijow, where she shares her experience of travelling to Ziro Festival of Music with us.

Ankita was a part of our Nagaland and Manjuli trip, where she along with other travellers had the chance of meeting the last face tattooed headhunter or the king of a Konyak village. We cannot put into words the joy that we shared when they became a part of our camping experience. You can read this amazing blog by Ankita where she narrates her Nagaland experience with us.

In 2019, we plan to bring some more amazing social media personalities like them with whom you can have great conversations and it might be the trigger to inspire you to do something differently. We are not talking about you quitting your jobs and turning into full-time travellers, but it could be one difficult conversation which you have been postponing, one major personal decision which you have been procrastinating or just meeting these people you usually see on Instagram and understand how they are normal humans, just like you.

For ease of navigation here is an index of all the trips, just click the one you are interested in to jump to that section

List of our trips and their specialities

Chalohoppo to Dzukou Valley

One of the lesser-known valleys of flowers that spreads like a carpet, changing colour with the seasons is a trekkers wonderland. At approximately 8000 feet you can see rivulets, flowers, herbs and shrubs spread across Dzukou’s lap. With the scenic and quaint villages of Zakhama and Viswema serving as bases for starting the trek, your experience of being one with nature starts the moment you arrive in Nagaland. As you trek to the serene valley and pass ‘communitised’ villages along the way, the fragrant flowers will keep your senses mesmerised, if the visual treat alone isn’t enough!

Our dear friend and eminent blogger Vikas Palkkot, one of the co-authors of “Beyond The Wall” went on a trip to Dzukou valley with us. Vikas and Divya are known for their budget travels (who doesn’t want to save a few bucks here and there) to beautiful destinations across the globe. You can know more about Vikas’s experience with us here.

You should book this trip if you

Ever felt like unzipping your tent to a surreal view of the sun rising over terraced rice fields and stretch your arms wide?

Want to camp to one of the best views Nagaland has to offer

Have thought of dining on fresh cooked Naga cuisines

Like red meat, varieties of smoked and fresh meat, infused with local herbs and generous portions of the bamboo shoot on offer

Love trekking and want to see the stunning landscape of Dzukou valley

Are not a regular trekker but want to experience it for the first time

You have never trekked

Want to get introduced to Nagaland

Have never camped and this would be your first time

Are planning to visit Northeast India and have only a weekend to spare

Miss seeing stars and sitting around bonfires

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Kohima

Jakhama village

Dzukou valley

Highlights of the trip

Visiting the war cemetery in Kohima

Kohima market walk

Traditional Naga restaurant in Kohima

Camping in Jakhama village with an amazing view of lush green terraced rice fields (May to September)

ChaloHoppo to Shnongpdeng (Everyday)

Camping next to a river that you can see through accompanied by a beautiful drive is a promise. The unending meadows, camping by the riverside and some adventurous dives are on the cards Roll your sleeves already!

You should book this trip if you

Don’t believe that the waters of the Umngot river are as transparent as they look

Want to camp by the riverside, stargaze at night and swim in the morning

Want to have a relaxing weekend by the river

Like to relax but also would love to zip line, kayak, scuba dive, snorkel and jump off cliffs

Think you want to try your hands at barbecuing your fish

Like to catch fishes and crabs at night with bare hands

Love bonfires and would spend the whole night sitting next to one

Would like to visit the Bangladesh border, just for kicks

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Shnongpdeng

Dawki

Tamabil

Highlights of the trip

Camping beside Umngot river with western toilets and shower stations

Learning to make a bonfire so that you convert from a cool traveller to a person who can set things on fire

Fresh fish barbecue for non-vegetarians

Swimming, cliff jumping, kayaking and boating on the transparent waters

ChaloHoppo to Asia’s First Green Village, Dzuleke and Dzukou Valley

From breathing in the fresh Naga air of Asia’s first green village to finding solace in the bamboo alien land of Dzukou Valley. From photographing the decorated houses of Dzuleke to capturing thought-provoking graffiti on Kohima roads. From tasting your catch from the fresh stream of Khonoma to tasting authentic Naga cuisine in locally popular Kohima food joints. From walking in the golden rice fields of Jakhama to trekking up to 8,000 ft high to a bamboo wonderland.

Travelling isn’t just about staying in breathtaking beautiful places but it’s also a way to unleash the inner child in you. Check this wonderful video by Nishit Sharma aka Hopping bug (known for his amazing drone shots) who hopped along with us to Khonoma and see how some of us became kids again and don’t stop there watch till the end and we bet you’ll have a good time.

You should book this trip if you

Want to live in Asia’s First Green Village

Want to learn how to fish removing boulders and rocks from the locals

Want to try making your own catch for lunch

Are seekers of isolated villages

Are fascinated about history as much as an adventure in the wild

Want to explore the exotic markets of Kohima

Want to wake up to the view of golden terraced paddy fields

Have the talent to photograph the changing colour of the skies during sunset

Want to experience the alien valley of Dzukou

Are keen to have an affair with clear starlit skies

Understand the spirit of surviving in extreme conditions and how everyone from porters to guides to fellow travellers works together

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Khonoma

Dzuleke

Kohima

Jakhama

Dzukou Valley

Highlights of the trip

Living in Asia’s first green village

Go for heritage village walk to understand the struggle of Nagas with British.

Fishing with locals in the jungle using traditional techniques.

Having fresh organic veggies plucked from the kitchen garden.

Living in a village with only 34 houses

Feeding salt to “Mithuns” with your own hands

Visiting the underground markets of Kohima, with exotic dishes on offer

Chalohoppo to an Emerald Meghalaya (February to April)

A trek that will make you go weak in the knees both literally and figuratively, a village that will make you lose track of time and a river that is filled with as much adventure as the fishes; will make you wonder if you should cancel your tickets! Nothing is an exaggeration but only an expression of what the travellers so far have felt. We haven’t yet mentioned the butterflies that will greet you on your treks and the sweet folks who will offer you kwai. May we say that it would be a food-venture for those who like their meat and those who love their veggies shall not go hungry either.

You should book this trip if you

Have the mental fitness to trek down 3600 steps

Enjoy water-based activities

Are passionate about classic rock and want to hear local musicians jamming to it

Are comfortable experiencing different kinds of stay options from tents, to boutique cottages to run down rest houses in the middle of a jungle

Prefer experimenting with local food

Want to experience the best of Meghalaya within a limited time span of 5 nights

Want a budget trip but don’t want to go through the hassle of planning one

Are smart enough to understand that visiting places is also about visiting it at the right time and under the guidance of the right people

Want to swim in emerald blue waters of Meghalaya

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Jowai

Krangshuri falls

Shnongpdeng village

Nongriat village

Nohkalikhai falls

Arwah caves

Wei Sawdong falls

Dainthlen falls

Rainbow Falls

Hidden turquoise rock pools

Sai Mika cafe and resort

Highlights of the trip

Staying in one of the most remote villages accessible only on foot

Tasting the authentic Khasi cuisine and cooking a meal in the open

Swimming in turquoise waters on 4 out of the 5 nights of the trip!

Boating on a transparent river

Listening and jamming with a local band in Cherrapunjee playing in an equally interesting cafe

Travelling on the rooftop of a ‘traveller’

Staying in a farmhouse in the middle of paddy fields, only accessible on foot.

ChaloHoppo to a Mythical Mizoram (February – March)

Mizoram a land of majestic landscapes is filled with uncountable mythical folklore. Greet your mornings to a sight of Burma, while tasting the traditional Mizo air. Leave the modern Mizoram, it’s time to head to land where the stories still reside in distant villages.

You should book this trip if you

Always wanted to know about the less known Mizoram

Want to live your backpacking dream in Mizoram

Want to live, eat, and stay in the far-off eastern villages of Mizoram

Are fans of mythical stories and want to live the aura around it

Want to get yourself clicked roaming around in the neverending rice fields

Feel like challenging the inner Traveller in you, on the bumpy Mizo roads

Want to Celebrate Chapchar Kut, the festival of Spring with the whole of Aizawl

Are up for chugging down pints of the Zufang, Rice Beer

Love to drive away from organised modern city life to the far-off Eastern side of myths

Won’t mind a walk along the small ways in a distant village with kids teaching you the local lingo

Want to go for a night crab hunt in the river, to hunt the crabs with the locals.

Don’t mind waking up every day to a sight of a series of Burmese ranges

Want to spend time cleaning the small school campus of 119 kids and teach them

Love to sip some Thengpui San (Laal Chaa) while learning how to make Mizo cuisines.

Love a story walk up to the Mythical hills of Mizoram

Want to just walk in Burma and fancy a pint of Myanmar Beer next to RihDil

Want to keep your checklist away, cause it will overflow

The locations and spots you will get ticked off the list

Aizawl

Champhai

Zokhtwar

Rikhtwar

Rihdil Lake

Dungtlang Village

Lianchhiari Lunglen Tlang

Village Ruins of Dungtlang

Vaphai Village

Thasiama Seho Nehina.

Tan Tlang

Fiara Tui

Tam Dil

Highlights of the trip

Capturing the most beautiful night view of a city in North East

Tasting the most challenging delicacies present in the North East.

Getting to hop onto a two-wheeler taxi.

Staying in a distinct village close to Burma, with only 120 households

Walking into Burma and exploring the town on the other hand

Visiting the pious heart-shaped lake, Rih Dil, in Burma

Living, eating and sharing with Mizo families

Learning how to make the Mizo cuisines

Riding the Mizo Cart with the Mizo Kids

Night Crab Hunting with the villagers

Knowing and listening to experiences with the Mizo’s of the land

Exchanging currencies, shopping and having a local drink in the local shady bar in Burma

Meeting the cowboy collector of Aizawl

Exploring the second-hand markets of Aizawl

Trekking to taste the tastiest water on Earth (according to Mizos)

Living a moment with the view of Burmese hills that would give you numb thoughts

ChaloHoppo to an Unorthodox Tour of Sikkim

In a state where the most difficult terrains have been tamed and homestays are as common as rhododendron flowers in spring, can one still find places that can be termed offbeat and experiences that are handpicked? Find out.

You should book this trip if you

Want to see Sikkim from a different perspective

Love the idea of homestay hospitality

Want to visit a part of India where drivers don’t even honk at blind curves

Love walking and exploring a hill town

Are fascinated with the thought of spending 2 nights in a resort only accessible by 4 by 4 vehicles or on foot where the clouds float into your wooden cottages

Think you can finish a wooden tumbler full of millet beer before dinner and then continue drinking it after dinner as well

Want an unorthodox tour of Sikkim beyond the usual places it is known for, on the internet

Don’t mind experiencing subzero temperatures and walk through snow to get a cup of hot tea

Understand that counting how many frozen lakes and viewpoints you have ticked off isn’t the same as having an immersive travel experience

Would like a hot spring bath in the cold month of January

Would rather avoid the peak season where tourists would clamour for space and be a traveller instead

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Lingtam village

Zuluk loops(Old Silk Route)

Gnathang valley

Dzongu

Mantam beach

Gangtok

Nathula Pass

Tsongmo lake

Baba Mandir

Highlights of the trip

Driving up the historic and stunning silk route through Zuluk famously known as the Zuluk loops

Hiking up through the hills of Dzongu to bathe in the warm waters of a natural hot spring

Spending 2 nights in beautiful wooden cottages at Dzongu where you are greeted by clouds and enjoy great food

Day picnic at the Mantam beach that was formed as a result of massive destruction that submerged half a village

Exploring the beautiful capital of Gangtok and go café and bar hopping

Cooking traditional Bhutia meals at Dhungkar homestay in Lingtam

Stopping over for lunch at the gorgeous Gnathang valley situated at 13500 feet where freezing temperatures and great sights hypnotise you

Bathing in the natural hot spring bath in Dzongu

Hiking up to the Agamlok monastery in the morning

Please note that this trip can be extended to a 3 night 4 day trip of North Sikkim as well starting on the 26th of March. If you wish to extend it then please get in touch with us here.

ChaloHoppo to Experience the Aoleang Festival of the Erstwhile Headhunters

At the Aoleang festival, you will experience time travel. Yes, every Konyak will be dressed in their traditional attire. Guns slung across shoulders. Both real and make-believe ones. Gunshots will fill the air like colours during Holi. The harmonic beating of a century old log drums will reverberate through silent nights. Young girls will sing songs. The mischievous boys will kick up some dirt as they inherit their warrior ways for this week. Apart from celebrating the Aoleang Festival with Konyaks you will also greet the one-horned rhinos of Kaziranga and explore the largest river island of Asia, Majuli.

You should book this trip if you

Have heard about the Hornbill festival in Nagaland but trust us when we say that “Aoleang” festival is the real deal!

Are intrigued by diverse tribal cultures

Are fascinated by tattoos and want to know what different patterns mean

Have heard about the erstwhile headhunters of Nagaland and want to meet them

Want to go to some of the most remote villages of Nagaland to meet old men who take you back in time

Want to visit the world’s largest river island

Like the idea of crossing a river on a ferry with the locals, not just any river but the Brahmaputra

Want to meet the author of the book titled “The Last of the Tattooed headhunters”

Know the joy of camping in a place overlooking tea gardens on hillocks

Want to walk to a different country (Burma) for the joy of it

Cherish a photo of yours with the last of face tattooed Konyak king (Angh)

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Majuli river island

Mon town

Hongphoi village

Shiyong village

Wakching village

Longwa

Angh’s house split between Burma and India

Rang Ghar in Sivasagar

Highlights of the trip

Meeting the last face tattooed king of the Konyak tribe

Celebrating Aoleang festival with the Konyak nagas

Spending two nights on the world’s largest river island

Tasting the authentic food of the Mising tribe in Majuli

Spending two nights camping in the farmhouse of Phejin Konyak, the author of “The last of the tattooed headhunters”

Meeting the gunmaker of Longwa

Buying Konyak handicrafts from the artisans home in Longwa village

Visiting the king’s home in Longwa split equally between India and Burma

Chalohoppo to an Unknown Arunachal Pradesh- Mechuka

From a complete shift in architectural pattern, with wood replacing brick and mortar and herds of stray horses interrupting your path or seen grazing at a distance, replacing the usual cow herds seen on Indian roads, you slowly tend to relate to the deep-rooted Tibetan influence that you have read online about.

The trip gets better when you are received by your warm home-stay hosts.

Mechuka turns fluorescent green from May right till August. September marks the beginning of Autumn and everything turns brown and stays that way until December.

January brings in snow and then spring comes. Regardless of the season, you visit it in, the place offers breathtaking beauty.

Offbeat travels, uncharted routes, and unexplored destinations are what we seek to provide our guests with. Sometimes enjoying the little moments of unprecedented happenings are what makes the journey worth. Tanya Khanijowwent on a tour of Mechuka with us in November 2018. You can relive her journeyhere as she unwraps her exciting travel anecdote to Mechuka with us.

You should book this trip if you

Want to visit a destination that is not on the regular tourist’s map

Have 10 days off or want to take 10 days off and go as a far away from the city life as possible

Want a holiday where you stay in people’s homes, eat with them and live like them

Are looking for places which have less than 1500 hashtag mentions on Instagram (look for #Mechuka) and compare it to #Tawang which has 34,000 mentions!

Love hiking to reach viewpoints which take your breath away

Crave for organic fruits and can pluck your own oranges and eat them

Can chases wild horses roaming in tableland at 6000 feet

Want to feel the chilly winter winds and get soothed by bonfires

Stargaze for pleasure with the backdrop of snow-capped peaks shining under the moonlight

Don’t mind having any phone connectivity for a week

Want to eat “churpi” in a shepherd’s hut that only comes into sight after trekking for 2 hours

The locations and spots you will get to tick off the list

Pasighat

Siang riverside

Kinker Moniyong hanging bridge

Along

Siko Diko waterfalls

Mechuka valley

Darjeeling

Rinjinling hike

Mechuka la hike

Highlights of the trip

Momo making sessions with the locals of the Memba tribe

Hiking to a 400-year-old monastery

Relishing a ‘langar’ in a Gurudwara in the land of the Memba people

Staying in beautiful and comfortable homestays

Lunching in front of a waterfall, yes right in front of it, as the water sprays over you

Hiking to a shepherd’s hut in a stunning village

Plucking wild strawberries for fun and eating them before the horses do

Wearing shades which can protect your eyes from the endless giant moulds of fluorescent greenery

ChaloHoppo to an Adventure in the Wet and Wild Meghalaya

If you grew up in these villages of Meghalaya, you would never need an amusement park in your life. From serene spots in the jungle to exciting river activities and picturesque lakes, they have it all. Go find a pair of swimming trunks!

You should book this trip if you

Loved water parks as a child

Love watching videos of people jumping and diving into the water

Can’t swim but would be like aqua-man with the life jacket on

Haven’t heard of the activity called ‘canyoning’ before today

Have confused river canyoning with canoeing

Like trekking and pushing yourself to see that amazing waterfall, that one breathtaking view of a valley and more

Care about offbeat experiences and will choose a destination which may not be on Google’s list of top places to visit in Meghalaya

Have been waiting to see the double-decker living root bridges of Meghalaya

Get an adrenaline rush out of crossing wobbly hanging bridges with gushing rivers underneath

Love treating yourself to a comfortable stay in the most pristine setting after a hard day’s trek

Enjoy classic rock and get joy out of seeing and interacting with passionate musicians as they jam in front of you

That’s the list of our all the major upcoming trips for 2019. If these dates do not match your planned dates then do not worry. You can always get your trips customised. Send in your enquiries to [email protected] If you like what you see here and want to get on a call to discuss this please dial 7756852736!

The calender is well organized and very informative. Just one suggestion - it would be great if the highlights of the trips could be illustrated more through pictures, as they are more appealing and quicker to go through in my opinion :) but do keep up the good work!

The calender is well organized and very informative. Just one suggestion – it would be great if the highlights of the trips could be illustrated more through pictures, as they are more appealing and quicker to go through in my opinion 🙂 but do keep up the good work!

Hey Harshita, That's a brilliant idea. If not for this calendar we will definitely do it for the next one. I know exactly what you mean. If I get the time before the next trip, I'll certainly do it. Otherwise, the next calendar will definitely feature it.

Hey Harshita,
That’s a brilliant idea. If not for this calendar we will definitely do it for the next one. I know exactly what you mean. If I get the time before the next trip, I’ll certainly do it. Otherwise, the next calendar will definitely feature it.

Dear Mr.Nishant Sinha, Congratulations on your initiative. You have discovered yourselves in doing your passion. 15th August 2001 I had first seen the Double Decker Root Bridge at Nongriat. I had named and started promoting the Living Root Bridge at Umunoi at about 2 km from the Resort since June 2000. When I was exploring a new trek to the river Simtung and Umkynsan for swimming in the river, I…

Dear Mr.Nishant Sinha,

Congratulations on your initiative. You have discovered yourselves in doing your passion. 15th August 2001 I had first seen the Double Decker Root Bridge at Nongriat. I had named and started promoting the Living Root Bridge at Umunoi at about 2 km from the Resort since June 2000. When I was exploring a new trek to the river Simtung and Umkynsan for swimming in the river, I was shown the bridge at Nongriat. From then on I promoted it as the Double Decker Root Bridge. Nice to see the way you are promoting it and the whole of North East. I am sure you will be rightly rewarded with great success. I can feel the passion in your write up.

You have been sending us tourists. Drop in when you come here next time. God Bless.

Wow! Such awesome tips in regard to Chalohoppos trip, I love traveling in different places. My next travel destination is Chalohoppos But I was worried about Chalohoppos travel guide? I was wondering how it is with traveling in Chalohoppos. Actually, I got a lot of information from your blog which you have written your blog. Review this article my confusion is clear, Thanks.

Wow! Such awesome tips in regard to Chalohoppos trip, I love traveling in different places. My next travel destination is Chalohoppos But I was worried about Chalohoppos travel guide? I was wondering how it is with traveling in Chalohoppos. Actually, I got a lot of information from your blog which you have written your blog. Review this article my confusion is clear, Thanks.